The biggest data leak in history is about to be turned into a political thriller by Netflix and The West Wing's John Wells.

Six-time Emmy winner Wells is collaborating directly with Frederik Obermaier and Bastian Obermayer, reporters who, along with a clandestine team of journalists, uncovered mass financial and political corruption.

Documents leaked from Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca uncovered how wealthy public figures from around the world had allegedly avoided paying their fair share of taxes.

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The ensuing scandal brought down the government of Icelandic prime minister Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson, cast doubt on former UK leader David Cameron and enveloped celebrities such as Emma Watson.

Netflix boss Ted Sarandos announced the Panama Papers film: "We are confident that between the expert investigative work of Obermaier and Obermayer, the only journalists in touch directly with [the leak's source] John Doe, the ICIJ [International Consortium of Investigative Journalists], and the master storytelling of John Wells Productions, we will be able to deliver a gripping tale that will deliver the same type of impact as the The Panama Papers when they were first revealed on the world's front pages."

For their part, Obermaier and Obermayer expressed excitement about bringing the story of "the biggest collaboration of journalists the world has ever seen" to Netflix.

Netflix has strayed more often into producing overtly political films over the last few years.

Its Golden Globe-nominated Idris Elba dramaBeasts of No Nation tackled the ongoing crisis of child soldiers, while the upcoming Brad Pitt vehicle War Machine chronicles US-led military campaigns against terrorism.

Netflix isn't the only major studio working on a Panama Papers movie, as Magic Mike director Steven Soderbergh is planning his own project based on the scandal.